Bailey Set to Get First Taste of PAT Experiment

The NFL is experimenting with longer PATs this preseason

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Cowboys kicker Dan Bailey has publicly questioned the NFL’s decision to experiment with longer point after attempts in the preseason, but he’s ready to see what happens on Thursday, when the team opens up the preseason against the San Diego Chargers.

“It’s just one of those things where we’re just going to have to deal with it the first two [preseason] games, and then obviously from there see what happens,” Bailey said, per the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. “I guess it’s a good opportunity to practice 33-yard field goals is the way I’m looking at it.”

Commissioner Roger Goodell is considering the change because the PAT has become pretty much automatic, and he’s not exactly wrong. Last year, more than 1,000 PATs were attempted, and just five were missed. Bailey himself has never missed an extra point.

“The whole principle of the matter, I think, is a little obscure,” Bailey said. “If we’re so good, I don’t understand why that’s a bad thing. I think you ask anybody that knows the game, it’s not as easy as it looks. Yeah, a normal extra point is a 20-yard field goal, but I guarantee you of the 53 guys on the roster, there might be a handful that would be able to make that. It’s definitely not as easy as it looks. If it does take hold and actually is adopted, you’re going to see a lot of games, probably where it has a lot more impact on even decision-making as well as end-of-game situations.”

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